20 Foods That You Must Try in Montenegro!

Pozdrav Prijatelji!

As you may know, I have been living in Montenegro for the past few months. Throughout my time in Montenegro, I have become very passionate and sometimes outspoken about tourism here. Tourism is one of the main sources of Montenegro’s income, so it is naturally a very important topic. One of my complaints is that I felt that some of the most amazing things about this country are simply not being highlighted.

I want to share the real Montenegro

Some people don’t even know this country exists. Montenegro was formerly a part of Yugoslavia which no longer exists. Some think there is still war in this region of the world. I was actually warned twice by Germans of the so-called ‘dangers’ of visiting the Balkans but I am here to tell you that I have never felt safer. I feel safer here than I do in Australia and actually more at home because I have been welcomed so warmly. While I am here, I am on a mission to share more about Montenegro. The real Montenegro. And let me tell you, there is a lot more to this beautiful country than the old towns of Kotor and Budva which are inarguably breathtakingly beautiful but there is more to Montenegro than that!

A friendly vendor at a food market in Herceg Novi, Montenegro.

20 Foods That You Must Try in Montenegro

I’ve recently discussed Christmas traditions and I even interviewed some locals about this. Now, I want to draw your attention to something that was often mentioned by locals while we discussed their culture and traditions. Food! Food is an important aspect of daily life in Montenegro and it plays a lead role within all special occasions here, with specific foods being prominent in all celebrations.

I want to share with you 20 foods that locals recommend that you should try when visiting and I will also share some of my personal favourites. All of these foods are popular and some are traditional foods that have histories dating back hundreds of years ago.

These foods don’t all originate from Montenegro

Montenegrin cuisine has been strongly shaped by its history, its geographic position and climate. Due to the history of the Balkans, you will find many similarities in basically everything across the Balkans, especially with culture and food. So you can try all of these foods in Montenegro and most of them in other parts of the Balkans, where these foods are also popular. There are some similarities and ‘adoptions’ with the cuisines of other neighbouring countries outside of the Balkans.Some of Montenegro’s cuisine originates from totally different parts of the world. There is a strong Turkish influence due to parts of Montenegro being conquered and ruled by the Ottoman Empire for about 500 years. So of course, you can expect some of their traditions to still live on in Montenegro in the present day.

Get your taste buds ready, let’s get started!

1. Pršut – Prosciutto

Njeguški pršut is the most famous type of prosciutto in Montenegro. It is a dry-cured ham which is characterised by its soft texture and delicate smoky and salty flavours.

How is this served?

In Montenegro, prosciutto is a very popular starter which is typically served with cheese and olives. Proscuitto is often used to fill sandwiches.

Where to try this?

You can try this in any restaurant (5-10 €) or you can simply pick it up a supermarket (3-4€).

2. Crnogorski Sir – Montenegrin Cheese

There are around 450 types of cheeses produced in Montenegro and they are mostly handmade using traditional methods by women in the countryside. We recommend that you try ‘oil cheese’ (Montenegrin: sir iz ulja), ‘young cheese’ (Montenegrin: mladi sir) and Zlatarski sir.

How is this served?

In Montenegro, cheese is essential as a starter. It is also regularly eaten alongside main meals.

Where to try this?

You can try a mixed cheese platter in any restaurant (the one we had in a nice restaurant was 6.50€) or buy individual cheeses at the market or a supermarket.

3. Burek

Burek is a type of pastry made with thin dough (filo), often filled with cheese, meat or vegetables or a combination of these ingredients. It comes in all different shapes and sizes, from thin sticks to large rectangular shapes, triangles and spirals. Burek is essentially the king of Balkan food-on-the-go and it isn’t unusual to see drivers holding their wheel with a burek in their hand. Burek is one of the many examples of Turkish influence in Montenegro.

How and when is this served?

Burek is eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner here! But it is most popular for breakfast or as a snack. Some people like to have their burek with a savoury yoghurt drink (Montenegrin: Jogurt – not to be confused with the sweet stuff, this is a more savoury type of yoghurt) which you can also buy at the bakery.

Where to try this?

Go to a bakery (Montenegrin: Pekara). Some are definitely better than others, so if you can ask a local, your accommodation provider, for example, they will most likely have a top recommendation or two.

4. Ruska Salata – Russian Salad

Legend says that Russians bought this recipe to the Balkans. In Russia, it is known as ‘Olivier’ salad and it is a variation of a French salad. Russian salad contains a mayonnaise and sour cream base and diced ingredients such as ham, green peas, corn and carrot are mixed into this salad. Russian salad is Marko’s favourite food for any celebration!

How and when is this served?

Russian salad is always served at special occasions such as Christmas, New Years and Slava. It is served as a starter alongside prosciutto, cheese and olives and it is also served alongside main meals.

Where to try this?

You can try Russian salad in some restaurants and some fast food stores sell it.

Russian salad is in the white bowl at the front of the picture.

5. Sarma

Sarma can be found in countries that were formerly conquered by the Ottoman Empire, from the Middle East to Southeastern Europe. This adopted cuisine is incredibly popular. In Montenegro, it is usually comprised of seasoned minced meat, vegetables and rice wrapped in a cabbage leaf. It is cooked with a piece of dried meat for extra flavour. Marko’s mum makes me a version of this without meat and that is one of my favourite foods ever!

How is this served?

Sarma is served as a main meal for any occasion.

Where to try this?

I recommend going to Podgorica to try this as traditional cuisine is harder to find in restaurants throughout the rest of Montenegro. We recommend ‘Volat’ in Podgorica for its authentic cuisine. This restaurant has an exotic ambience, with traditional music playing and waiters adorned with traditional Montenegrin clothing. For a feast for 3 people, as well as coffee and drinks, it came to 19€, so this is a very budget-friendly place to dine.

Roštilj – Barbeque

Barbeque is a very prominent feature of Montenegrin and Balkan cuisine and it is a very diverse type of food. Popular meats include pork and beef. The most well-known type of BBQ in the Balkans is Ćevapi.

How is this served?

Barbeque is quite heavy food and best served as a main meal. It can be had as a snack if you pick it up as a takeaway.

Where to try this?

We recommend that you try barbeque either in a restaurant that specialises in barbeque or in a barbeque fast food place, there are a lot of options for both.

6. Gurmanska Piljeskavica – Gourmet Hamburger Steak

The gourmet hamburger is a steak seasoned with herbs, spices, cheese and onion. Some fast food places offer a filled hamburger steak which contains cheese and ham in the centre. This dish is very decadent no matter how you serve it. Marko said that for him a gourmet hamburger is the true test of the quality of a restaurant or fast food place that does BBQ.

7. Ćevapi

Ćevapi are essentially small grilled kebab-like sausages. They are normally made out of pork and beef minced meat. You can get them made out individual meats, this type is mainly available in the supermarket. Ćevapi is very common throughout the Balkans and is considered to be the national dish of many countries in this region.

8. Palačinke – Pancake

Palačinke is a crepe which is made either sweet or savoury depending on the toppings used. This is a popular dish throughout the Balkans. The most popular savoury type is filled with sour cream, cheese and ham and it is also deep fried. Other savoury fillings include mincemeat and vegetables with cheese and sour cream. The most popular version of the sweet Palačinke is filled with ground Plasma biscuits and Eurocrem spread. Other sweet fillings include Nutella, jam, honey and nuts.

How is this served?

Savoury palačinke are quite heavy and are typically eaten as a main meal. The sweet palačinke are normally eaten as a snack or dessert.

Where to try this?

Palačinke can be found in restaurants, pizzerias and cafe-bars (casual fast-food type of establishments).

9. Priganice

Priganice is a delicacy that has been consumed since ancient times, originating from rural areas of Montenegro and Hercegovina. It is essentially a Balkan doughnut. They are considered to be a ‘poor man’s food’ as they use very simple ingredients. Priganice can be served sweet or savoury with accompaniments such as honey, jam or cheese. This is one of my personal favourites, Marko’s mum’s Priganice is the best!

How and when is this served?

The basic Priganice can be eaten any day as a snack but most families have their own special recipe for sweet Priganice which is made on special occasions like Christmas Day.

Where to try this?

Priganice is a little trickier to source out but they aren’t impossible to find. It can be found in the rare cafe or restaurant. I recommend doing a Google search of the place you are visiting, along with ‘Priganice’. You will have better luck finding this in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro.

10. Layered Cakes

These intricate, layered cakes are something that you would expect from a French patisserie but they are found all over the Balkans and are a popular dessert. There are innumerable varieties of these cakes, ranging from traditional to more modern flavours. A traditional cake you can try is the Reforma cake. Reforma cake is typically flourless and dairy-free, it has 9-10 layers and lots of chocolatey and nutty flavours. It is quite a heavy cake. My personal favourite is the Nesquik cake and Marko’s favourite is the Egypt cake.

How and when is this served?

When locals go to meet friends for coffee, they sometimes order a slice of cake. For special occasions, a female family member, usually a mother, will bake and serve up her best cakes.

Where to try this?

You can try a layered cake at most cafes and supermarkets. For the freshest cakes, I recommend going to a dedicated cake shop where they bake on the premises.

Reforma Cake.

11. Krempita – Cream Pie

Krempita is a dessert made with thin pastry, sandwiching a custard and/or cream filling. It is similar in flavour to the Australian ‘vanilla slice’. It is a very popular dessert in Montenegro and in the Balkans.

How is this served?

It is served as a dessert.

Where to try this?

You can try this in a cafe or cake shop. You can also buy it at a supermarket in a cup which is a really nice way to eat it.

12. Turkish Desserts

Turkish desserts are a standard aspect of Montenegrin cuisine. Popular Turkish desserts include Baklava, Talumba and Urmašica.

How and when is this served?

Turkish desserts are usually eaten along with Turkish coffee which is a very popular drink in Montenegro. These desserts are often made for special occasions.

Where to try this?

Coffee shops, cake shops and some bakeries sell Turkish desserts.

BaklavaUrmašica

13. Gelato

Mikki, this is Italian food? Hear me out! Some Balkan gelato makers actually go to Italy to learn to make authentic gelato and they bring their skills and recipes back to the Balkans. Last year, Marko and I travelled extensively throughout Italy for a month and a half. You better believe we tried a lot of gelato (those hips don’t lie, am I right?) and I have to tell you, the gelato from Montenegro is up there with some of the finest!

Where to try this?

You can find delicious gelato all along the coastal region of Montenegro as well as in Podgorica. Specifically, I recommend that you try Do-Do Gelato which you can find only in Herceg Novi. My favourite flavour is Don Vito which is vanilla gelato with cherry and chocolate sauce.

Do-Do Gelato.

14. Smokva – Figs (and fig products)

Figs are grown throughout the coastal regions of Montenegro and they are very, very popular.

How is this served?

They can be eaten fresh, dried, in jams and within desserts.

Where to try this?

For the best fresh and dried figs either go to the market or to a roadside fruit stand. Jams can be purchased at markets or at the supermarket. Desserts with figs can be found in cake shops and in the supermarket.

Some popular packaged snacks

The brands that we have shared below are some of the oldest and most popular in Montenegro. They are considered the best. There are some different variations of these products. These products are all snacks and can be found in any supermarket in Montenegro. All of these packaged foods are not produced in Montenegro but they are made in the Balkans and are popular in most of the Balkans.

15. Plazma

Plasma is a biscuit with a very unique flavour. The flavour reminds of an Australian scotch finger biscuit.

How and when is this served?

Plasma is eaten for breakfast especially by kids and as a snack. It is sometimes eaten with hot cocoa or dipped into Eurocrem spread. Some desserts in the Balkans also use Plasma biscuits.

16. Štapići

Štapići (English: Thin Sticks) is a popular savoury snack. They are basically pretzel sticks with little chunks of salt.

17. Jadro Napolitanke

Jadro Napolitanke is a biscuit comprising of multiple layers. The classic version has 2 layers of vanilla and 1 layer of chocolate. Marko’s favourite is the version that is like the classic but it is coated in chocolate.

18. Eurocrem

Eurocrem is a very popular product range in Montenegro. It is characterised by its famous combination of hazelnut and cocoa flavours. The most popular product is Eurocrem spread which is used as a spread for sandwiches, pancakes and a dip for sweet biscuits like Plasma. The chocolate bar reminds me of Nutella in a chocolate bar.

19. Munchmallow

Munchmallow is a biscuit filled with marshmallow, dipped in chocolate. It is one of Marko’s favourite things in the world.

20. Jaffa

I am aware that this product originates from the UK but it is wildly popular in Montenegro. The Jaffa flavour of chocolate and orange is popular is flavour, in general here.

A Very Honourable Mention To Seafood…

In Montenegro, some families eat seafood every single day for at least one meal, especially families of fisherman. Those who eat seafood every day eat common types of fish. Some families reserve seafood for special occasions like Slava or Christmas because they buy rarer types of seafood and they are expensive.

I wanted to recommend this because being a Meditteranean country and living by the sea, I know that this is an important part of Montenegrin cuisine. However, for tourists, seeking out quality seafood in a restaurant and finding seafood that isn’t overpriced can be very very hard. If you have the opportunity to try seafood with a local, don’t pass up that chance! If you aren’t afraid to cook up a seafood feast yourself, I recommend visiting a fish market, there are plenty. So, while I do recommend trying seafood here, it can be risky, in a restaurant setting.

Dietary Requirements

As a person with specific dietary requirements, travelling can be tricky. Surprisingly, I found this not to be the case in Montenegro or the Balkans, in general. Unlike when I am at home, in Australia, no one has questioned my choices like I am a criminal on trial or ridiculed me. It has been super refreshing! People are very accepting and very accommodating here. In this part of the world, you can buy basic ‘food replacements’ (eg. milk alternatives, for example), the ranges typically aren’t big and they are a little expensive (like most of the world).

For vegetarians/vegans/those avoiding particular animal products

If you are vegan or vegetarian, don’t be put off by this meat-heavy cuisine! As I mentioned earlier, Montenegrins are very tolerant and hospitable when it comes to food preferences. You can also look for ‘Posna’ products, they contain no animal products. You can even ask for a ‘Posna’ meal in any restaurant or fast food place. I’ve seen Posna pizza, cake and a big range of convenience foods. ‘Posna’ refers to food that is eaten during a fast for Orthodox Christians. There are people fasting during different periods throughout the year, so these products are always available. PS. This is the case for only Montenegro and Serbia. In Croatia, Posna includes animal products.

I made a video on this topic!

For the first time, in conjunction with a blog post, I have made a video to go along with it. So, if you’d like to see me in my first proper Youtube video, click on this link to check it out. Warning: it will make your mouth water!

Thank you for reading!

I hope you enjoyed this post. I encourage you to try at least one of these foods when you visit Montenegro or the Balkans. You won’t regret it!

Have you tried any of these foods or are there any in particular that you would like to try? I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments section!

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Hi, my name is Mikki! I travel slowly and on a budget, in search of authentic cultural experiences, hidden gems and epic natural wonders. Travelling slowly allows me to bring you well-informed advice, along with a plethora of personal tales and travel photography. I hope to inspire you to choose your own adventure, not a cookie cutter one!